Orton dilatometers are designed to measure
the dimensional changes of ceramics,
glasses, metals, carbon composites, cermets,
minerals, and polymers as a function of
temperature. The dilatometer records
reversible and irreversible changes in length
(expansion and shrinkage) during heating
and cooling. Samples are measured for
determining firing ranges and firing
schedules, measuring thermal expansion
ranges for glaze fits, and measuring thermal
expansion ranges for R&D, QC or product
certification. Orton standard dilatometers are used for ASTM E-228, C-372, and other testing
procedures to measure the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE), softening point, glass transition
temperature, curie point, crystalline transformation, phase transition, shrinkage, warping, bloating,
sintering rate, isothermal creep, stress relaxation.
The standard Orton dilatometer is a digital, horizontal, single sample, compact, benchtop system comprised of
a furnace (for a variety of temperature ranges, including sub-ambient); a sample holder system (fused quartz
or high alumina); a control/sample thermocouple; a sample displacement measuring system (probe rod and
LVDT sensor); a user-adjustable counterweighted pulley system to provide a constant and uniform contact
load on the test sample; the Orton control board for furnace control and data acquisition; and the Orton
dilatometer software.
All Orton standard systems are factory calibrated against a 1" rod of high purity, platinum, thermal expansion
standard. The standard systems require 120-VAC, 15-amp, or 240-VAC 20-amp, 50/60 hertz power. Standard
options include controlled atmosphere/vacuum components, over-temperature protection, and exchangeable
furnaces for rapid sample turnaround.